My husband and I have a soft spot and so much love for Latin countries. In March of this year, I decided I would surprise my husband with a trip in Panama for our 1 year wedding anniversary, so I had to find a way to purchase the flight tickets and book our accommodation without him noticing.
After I arranged flight tickets and accommodation, I had to find a way to have him get off work from Thursday to Monday, I told him I needed him off from Sept 1st but somehow, he thought I needed him off on September 1st only. Later, I said no I need you off from Thursday September 1st until Monday, September 5th. He then asked why, and I said I have that Friday off and I just want to have a long weekend with you, he said alright and requested the time off.
Next, I had to find a way to have him get a covid test without him questioning me why I wanted him tested. I decided to call his work and told them my plan and I asked them if they could tell him that he was exposed to someone who tested positive with covid and he needed to get tested. One of his coworkers was super helpful, he got the message passed to the manager and off they sent him back home asking him to get tested. He came back home super worried and tested himself with some at home tests we had, I felt so sorry seeing him so worried, but I just couldn’t tell him what I was doing.
On Wednesday his results came back negative and I told him that my work wants me to work because there is an emergency and they are sending us out of town. I said that I asked them if I can bring you and they agreed, I said we are flying to Florida. Thursday came and off we went to the airport, our flight tickets said Panama City but I fooled him saying that we were going to Panama City, Florida and he bought it.
We made it to Florida and got on the plane to Panama with him still thinking we are going to Panama City, Florida. While on the plane they asked us to fill out that little immigration paper and he looked at me puzzled and I said happy early anniversary babe! I decided to tell him about all the covid excuses and all the plans, you should have seen how shocked and emotional he was!
One important thing I wanted us to do was getting our yellow fever vaccines while we were in Panama because it is ridiculously expensive in the states. I had all the information looked up for us to be ready to go. When we got to the clinic the security guard told my husband they don’t let people with shorts on go in, so they had to find him an old pair of pants that was just hanging in one of the security house to put it on. Later on we found out the man was just fooling us to try to get some money out of us because we didn’t speak good Spanish, and that got me motivated to go learn Spanish.
Our very first breakfast was at Mentiritas Blanca, I went for el criminal swandwich, smoked salmon, sprouts and eggs on a croissant, it was one of the popular recommendations on the review and it was so good! My husband had sourdough toast with avocado and eggs. It also tasted really good, I normally don’t like sourdough so if I give it 5/5 it means it was delicious! They have amazing natural juices, tea and tasty coffee.
We had a chance to visit the Panama Canal where we saw ships going through the Miraflores locks. There was a tour guide explaining the process in Spanish and English while we watched. It was really impressive watching the ships go into the locks and get lowered to the next level, and the doors on the locks are still the original doors from when the canal was built!
On Saturday morning we went to Michael’s restaurant for brunch. Not only was the food just to die for but Michael, the owner of the restaurant, told us that he used to live in Louisville, Kentucky and we had a warm conversation. I must admit it felt great to find someone who lived in your state away from home. Michael’s restaurant felt amazing, from the service, the atmosphere, and the food, everything was just so lined up in a perfect straight line.
That Saturday night we went to get some authentic Panamanian food at Concolon restaurant. We had some crispy rice, beans and meat and I had my virgin piña colada in a piña(pineapple).
On Sunday we went on a tour on a catamaran. We went to Taboga island, and along the way we passed a lot of ships waiting to go through the Panama Canal. Seeing all those ships lined up was very cool, I don’t think that I have seen that many large ships lined up like that. The party on the boat was just lit, the food on the boat was good, but we also had some food at a restaurant on the island, I had some fresh fish and rice, it was so delicious! We got to swim at the beach on the island for about an hour before we had to get back on the boat to Panama City.
That night we went to Celina Casco Viejo, which has a taco spot and lounge on the rooftop, Taco la Neta, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had tacos as delectable as those! I had three of them, one chicken, one beef and one pork. After the tacos we danced for a while and then we had to go back to the apartment we were staying at because we had to fly back home early the next morning. Panama treated us amazing, and we had a blast! I hope we get to go back sometime!
Olá sou Brasileira. 32. anos